Adjustable handle for a rope or the like



Jan. 20, 1959 G. P. NlssEN ADJUSTABLE HANDLE: FOR A ROPE 0R THE-LIKE Filed April 4, 1958 INVENTR. E/PE N/55E/V BY United State? Patent f p Y 2,869,812 ADJUSTABLE HANDLE FoR A ROPE on THE LIKE Georgie P. Nissen, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Application April 4, 195s, 'serial No. 126,364

z claims. (cl. 272-75) This invention concerns a handle for a jump rope or the like and is more particularly concerned with a handle which may be readily disassembled to permit the longitudinal adjustment of said rope.

In organized and professional athletic programs there lis frequent need of good and durable roping which can stand an appreciable amount of usage and, further, a need for handles which can be readily attached or detached from roping of this type and yet handles which are capable of holding their grip on the rope regardless of the strain or pulling forces which may be placed upon them.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide a rope handle which may be quickly attached or dethe rope at various points and which can be moved without damaging, marking or marring the rope.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawings and following specifcations, wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the understanding, however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention. v

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of a handle constructed according to my invention, a section of rope being positioned therein.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of the locking loop employed in Figure 2 to hold the rope in position in the handle.

Figure 4 is an end view of the handle in cross section taken at line 4-4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of a section of rope which may be employed in the device shown in Figures l, 2 and 4. f

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures l and 2; the handle consists of two primary operative portions, the tubular plastic barrel 11 and the removable cap and wedging member 12. The rope 13 is inserted longitudinally of the barrel member and looped through the ring 14 of the cap 12.

Both the barrel member and the cap cooperate to hold the rope in position. ln making the original operational engagement between the rope and the handle, the cap 12 is removed, the rope 13 is then slid longitudinally of the barrel and looped through the vring 14. The rope will then be adjusted to the desired length by moving it back and forth through the loop until the proper length is obtained. The cap is then slid longitudinally of the barrel and locked into position in the barrel member. r

The barrel member must be formed of a slightly flexible material. A good quality plastic has been found to be an acceptable material for this barrel member. The cap 12 is of metal and the loop or wedging member is also a band of metal. The band of the loop member must be of substantial width as shown in Figure 2. lA width substantially equal to the radius of the barrel has been found to. be most desirable. Itwill be noted, from an examination of Figure 2, that the rope is looped about this wedging member so that a portion of the rope lies on each side of the loop, as at 15 and 16, and is compressed between the edge of the loop and the inner walls of the barrel member.

The loop member also has a cross diameter, Ias indicated at 17 of Figure 3, and 17 of Figure 4, which is of slightly greater distance than the diameter of the barrel itself. It will be noted that as this band is moved longitudinally within the barrel, the Wide section of the loop presses the adjacent wall of the barrel outwardly, which in turn results in the portion of the walls, which are at 90 degrees in relation to the point of control between the wall and loop, to be drawn inwardly against the rope. It will be obvious that this movement of the barrel member causes the rope portions 15 and 16 to be wedged in between the band and the inner face of the barrel wall.

This last pressure, together with the broad dimensioned band and the edges thereof which achieve the wedge function, results in the ropes being very firmly held in this looped position. Since any pulling pressure will be exerted longitudinally within the barrel away from the cap, the cap 12 will be biased against the end of the barrel, and since it is slightly larger diameter, it will make a irm contact with the barrel edges and hold the rope against the longitudinal pressure.

It is of course desirable to utilize a rope which is particularly susceptible to this wedging 'and compressing action between the band and the wall.

Referring to Figure 5, such a rope structure is shown in cross section. The rope consists of a core portion 20 which is of interlaced longitudinal heavy threads. A second layer of line strand bulky matting 21 encases this fibrous core. This ne strand material tends to expand outwardly. These two elements, which provide the longitudinal strength to the rope, are encased with a woven fabric cover 23. The ends of the rope are stitched together, as at 22, to prevent this layer-like stuing from working out of the fabric casing. A rope constructed in this manner has considerable strength and bulk and yet is light and easily compressible through this diameter, and

by reason of the stitching and structure in layer form, the

rope has a very irregular outer surface which further contributes to securing a stable frictional engagement between the loop 14 of the inner walls 11a of the barrel member.

It ,will be seen, from the foregoing description, that I have provided a structure which may be positioned on a rope in a very short period of time lor quickly repositioned as the need arises, but that I have also provided a device which will rmly hold the rope iu any selected position in relation to a handle and support substantial weight without slippage.

Although I have described a specic embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that modifications thereof may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a handle adapted to be selectively positioned on a compressible rope, a exible barrel member, a cap of greaterV diameter than the inside diameter of said barrel,

said cap being adapted to bepositioned at one end of said barrel, and a loop positioned on said cap and extending internally of said barrel, said loop having Wall portions spaced apart at a distance in excess of the inside diameter of said barrel member, said loop further being of substantial Width, whereby said compressible rope member may be inserted longitudinally of said barrel and through said loop, thence back upon itself', the width of said loop being greater than the inside diameter of said barrel to cause the walls adjacent thereto to be forced outwardly, whereby the Wall portion 90 degrees radially therefrom shall be drawn inwardly to wedge said rope against said loop.

2.' A- device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said. loop is comprised of a band of metal of a width equal to the radius of said barrel.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Massey Mar. 24, 1953 

